In the holiday season we might hear the phrase, “Be of good cheer!” As a man and a leader, are you of good cheer, in your life, your work, your leadership? To be of good cheer means to be happy, to have hope and to not be discouraged, to have faith and to live joyfully. Some people light up a room when they enter it. They bring a laugh and a smile, and an attitude that exudes confident knowledge that things will be alright.

The Bible tells faith-centered leaders to live as optimists. This confidence is a spiritual character trait based on our trust in God. Joshua 1:9 promises, “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” This attitude stands in stark contrast to the world we live in, with difficulties at every turn, conflicts, disagreements, discouragement and failures everywhere. Why can we “be of good cheer” in the midst of a warring, sinful, self-absorbed world?

We have hope and are not discouraged because of our knowledge of the future in God’s hands. And because God has promised us the future, we also know He is working in the present. In fact, Romans 8:28 tells us, “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.” So in this season of giving, family and faith, be of good cheer! And remember that good cheer is a great tool for your life and work:

Good cheer benefits your leadership. A person of good cheer inspires and motivates others. Good cheer also promotes resilience—that ability within a leader to withstand hardship and to recover quickly from difficulty. There’s a certain toughness that a man can exude—not being rude or rough, but rather being able to bounce back quickly and keep smiling through challenges. When others around you experience your good cheer, it will boost their confidence as well, and positively impact their lives. When swimming in a lake of negatives, have you ever been the one to declare, “Cheer up! Good things are ahead!”? Become a leader who can say that and mean it!

Good cheer is a product of faith. The resilient leader’s confidence in things to come brings a sense of peace to their life. This is a spiritual trait. John 14:27 tells us, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.” The holiday carol lyric beckons us to long for peace on earth, goodwill toward men. Peace is something that we all want in our homes, marriages, families, workplaces, communities and country.

The holidays can be, to some degree in our closest circles, a break from conflict and hurt and sense of quiet among those we know. Real peace, though, as Jesus told us, comes from God. The result of faith in God is peace in our heart. When we have the peace of God, we are not troubled or afraid. Now we see where good cheer really comes from—a faith-filled leader at peace in his heart and acting from the confidence God gives.

Good cheer is not just for the holidays. “Good cheer” is a phrase we almost exclusively use during Christmastime, yet it can benefit our leadership throughout the year. Life and work will have its ups and downs, but it need not affect our long-term outlook when we stand on a spiritual foundation. Paul wrote in Philippians 4:12, “I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me.”

What was Paul’s secret through the good times and hard times of life and leadership? It was the knowledge that God was at work, no matter what the circumstance. And look now at the context of the next line, “I can do all things through him who strengthens me.” This isn’t a sentence we utter in the huddle on fourth down at the football game. No, rather God strengthens us to accomplish His will through the good and bad. In every circumstance He is with us. So, be of good cheer, today, though the holidays, and into the new year!